John  Pi  Oouohep 


Nrnnber..... 


FOUR  YEARS  IN 

EUROPE 


BISHOP  WILLIAM  BURT 


Four  Years  in  Europe 


By  BISHOP  WILLIAM  BURT 


The  Quadrennial  Report  of  the 
General  Superintendent  Resident  in  Europe 
to  the  General  Conference  of  1908 


BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 
OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 
150  FIFTH  AVENUE 
NEW  YORK 


PRINTED  OCTOBER,  1908 


John  Gouoher 

Number _ _ 


FOUR  YEARS  IN  EUROPE 

Our  work  in  Europe  as  well  as  its  growth  and  development  is 
purely  providential.  We  are  in  Europe  because  God  led  us 
there,  and  in  spite  of  enormous  difficulties  we  have  succeeded 
because  God  has  approved  and  blessed  our  efforts.  German  and 
Scandinavian  immigrants  were  converted  at  our  altars  here, 
and  then  they  sought  to  evangelize  their  relatives  and  friends 
in  the  fatherland.  The  method  was  simply  that  of  the  New 
Testament.  Andrew  finds  Jesus  and  he  immediately  goes  and 
tells  Simon,  saying,  “We  have  found  the  Messias,  which  is,  being 
interpreted,  the  Christ.” 

These  friends  in  the  fatherland  soon  asked  that  preachers 
might  be  sent  to  them.  At  the  General  Conference  held  in  Pitts¬ 
burg  in  1848,  Dr.  William  Nast  pleaded  that  someone  might  be 
sent  to  Germany.  The  next  year  Dr.  L.  S.  Jacoby  was  sent, 
and  later  others  went  to  Sweden,  Finland,  Norway,  and  Den¬ 
mark.  They  were  not  all  preachers.  Some  were  converted 
sailors.  In  1854  there  came  sailing  up  the  beautiful  harbor  of 
Arendal,  Norway,  a  ship  with  all  the  sailors  on  board  converted 
men.  They  were  singing  the  hymns  of  salvation  which  they 
had  learned  in  the  Bethel  ship  at  New  York. 

Class  meetings  and  Sunday  schools  and  churches  were  organ¬ 
ized.  Papers  and  tracts  and  books  were  printed,  and  helpers 
were  raised  up  on  the  field  to  carry  on  the  rapidly  growing  work. 
Now  Methodism  extends  from  the  Black  Sea  on  the  east  to  the 
British  channel  on  the  west,  and  from  the  north  pole  to  Sicily. 
We  have  ten  Annual  and  Mission  Conferences,  four  hundred 
and  ninety-eight  ordained  ministers,  an  increase  of  forty-four 
during  the  quadrennium.  Sixty-six  thousand  five  hundred  and 
seventy-two  members,  an  increase  of  six  thousand  two  hundred 
and  fifty-four.  Sunday  school  scholars  and  teachers,  eighty- 
five  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-eight,  an  increase  of  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy.  We  have  also  about  four 
hundred  and  ninety  deaconesses  in  connection  with  our  Euro- 

3 


4 


FOUR  YEARS  IN  EUROPE 


pean  Methodism.  There  are  publishing  houses,  deaconesses’ 
Homes,  hospitals,  schools  of  various  grades  and  Church  proper¬ 
ties  in  all  these  lands,  valued  at  $4,500,000. 

During  the  quadrennium  we  have  built  sixty  new  churches, 
twenty-eight  new  parsonages,  and  four  other  new  buildings,  with 
an  increased  valuation  for  the  four  years  of  $890,185.  One  of  the 
new  churches  is  the  beautiful  church  at  Helsingfors,  Finland, 
worth  at  least  $60,000  and  free  of  debt. 

During  the  past  year,  1907,  the  contributions  to  the  Mis¬ 
sionary  Society  amounted  to  $13,011,  and  for  self-support 
$248,032.  In  addition  to  this  there  are  special  gifts  for  India, 
China,  and  Africa  amounting  to  more  than  $5,000  per  year. 
We  have  had  a  great  revival  of  missionary  interest  in  all  these 
Conferences.  Last  summer  Bishop  Hartzell  visited  several  of 
the  Conferences  and  rendered  efficient  service.  Some  of  the 
Conferences  are  supporting  lighthouses  in  Africa.  Sweden  has 
sent  two  young  men  to  Inhambane,  East  Africa,  and  a  young 
woman  to  China,  while  Germany  has  at  present  four  mission¬ 
aries  in  the  Bismarck  archipelago.  Contributions  for  all  pur¬ 
poses  during  four  years  amounted  to  $1,492,399,  which  is  cer¬ 
tainly  evidence  of  strength  and  of  native  growth. 

Thousands  of  our  European  converts,  however,  belong  to  our 
Church  and  to  other  evangelical  Churches  here  in  America. 
Who  can  estimate  the  blessings  that  have  come  to  the  homeland 
through  these  immigrants  who  have  brought  with  them  here  a 
living  Christian  experience,  and  hence  have  become  agents  for 
good  to  their  fellow-countrymen  here  in  America?  Now  we  can 
see  one  of  the  providential  reasons  why  as  a  Church  we  were  led 
to  the  continent  of  Europe.  We  are  constantly  sending  over 
here  Methodist  missionaries  from  Europe  to  preach  to  their 
fellow-countrymen — Italians,  Finns,  Hungarians,  Bohemians, 
and  others !  We  believe  that  when  our  Church  shall  be  fully 
awakened  to  her  obligation  and  privilege  in  this  homeland  we 
shall  reap  a  rich  harvest  among  these  foreign-speaking  people. 
The  fields  are  already  white  unto  the  harvest. 

The  statistics  of  the  work  as  it  now  exists,  encouraging  as  they 
are,  do  not  tell  of  all  the  victories  won.  Methodism  has  already 
become  a  spiritual  force  among  the  nations  of  Europe,  saving 
them  from  cold  rationalism  and  dead  formalism.  We  know,  and 


REPORT  OF  THE  RESIDENT  BISHOP  5 

spiritually  minded  people  who  are  not  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  acknowledge,  that  we  have  been  the  means  of  the  salva¬ 
tion  of  thousands  who  are  not  called  by  our  name.  One  writing 
us  from  Germany  last  summer  said:  “I  wish  you  could  have 
been  with  us  to  witness  revival  scenes  that  remind  one  of  the 
early  days  of  Methodism.  We  are  using  a  big  tent  and  scores 
are  converted  every  night.  It  would  rejoice  your  heart  to  see 
the  union  existing  between  State  Church  pastors  and  our  preach¬ 
ers.”  Professor  Harnack  has  said :  .  “Nb  type  of  believers  has 
interested  me  more  than  the  Methodists.  If  I  read  church  his¬ 
tory  correctly,  that  denomination  is  richest  in  experimental  reli¬ 
gion,  most  active  in  Christian  work,  most  fertile  in  results  of  all 

since  the  time  of  the  Reformation.” 

We  believe  that  what  Methodism  has  done  for  the  English- 
speaking  world  Methodism  will  accomplish  on  the  continent  of 
Europe.  The  greatest  blessing  that  could  possibly  come  to  all 
these  countries  would  be  a  revival  of  soul-stirring,  conscience¬ 
awakening,  joyous  Methodism,  and  I  am  happy  to  report  that 
the  revival  is  on. 

The  last  four  years  have  been  the  most  strenuous  four  years 
of  my  life.  I  have  literally  traveled  throughout  the  connection. 
In  addition  to  my  work  in  the  Conferences  I  have  lectured  and 
held  evangelistic  services  in  several  of  the  countries,  and  through 
circulars  and  correspondence  tried  to  stimulate  ministers  and 
churches  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  progress  of  the  work.  Dur¬ 
ing  two  winters  I  held  Sunday  evening  services  in  our  First 
Church,  Zurich.  One  winter  I  was  in  Africa,  and  the  other 

winter  holding  Conferences  in  America. 

My  first  purpose  has  been  to  conserve  the  many  good  things 
inaugurated  by  my  greatly  beloved  predecessor,  Bishop  Vincent, 
to  open  new  fields  and  to,,  push  the  work  vigorously  along  all 
lines.  It  was  not  an  easy  task  to  follow  one  so  fruitful  in  re¬ 
sources,  so  active  and  so  beloved  as  Bishop  Vincent.  I  have 
been  sincerely  thankful  for  his  sympathetic  help. 

In  addition  to  my  work  in  Europe  I  visited  Africa,  served  as 
Fraternal  Delegate  to  the  Irish  and  British  Conferences,  and 
presided  over  fourteen  Conferences  in  America.  In  all  I  have 
held  fifty-six  Conferences  on  three  continents,  and  traveled  more 
than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  miles.  I  reverently 


6 


FOUR  YEARS  IN  EUROPE 


thank  God  for  his  marvelous  care  and  gracious  help.  He  has 
been  with  me  every  day  and  in  all  the  way. 

ITALY 

During  the  quadrennium  the  work  in  Italy  has  been  under  the 
special  care  of  Dr.  N.  Walling  Clark,  Professor  Edward  Spencer, 
two  native  presiding  elders,  three  ladies  of  the  Woman’s  For¬ 
eign  Missionary  Society,  and  a  corps  of  forty  native  ministers. 
There  are  at  present  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-nine 
members  in  Italy,  a  net  gain  of  nine  hundred  and  sixty-three. 
We  also  have  property  valued  at  $465,000,  a  net  gain  during  the 
quadrennium  of  $100,000.  God  has  shown  us  a  wide-open  door 
for  the  evangelization  of  the  Italians  both  in  Italy  and  in  Amer¬ 
ica.  If  we  allow  this  day  of  opportunity  to  pass  unimproved, 
woe  to  us  and  to  our  great  Church ! 

BULGARIA 

We  generally  begin  our  round  of  Conferences  with  Bulgaria. 
Nearly  all  who  go  to  Bulgaria,  and  see  the  country  as  it  is,  and 
personally  witness  what  we  are  doing  there,  come  back,  in  spite 
of  all  the  criticisms  of  the  past,  enthusiastic  for  our  Bulgaria 
Mission.  There  is  something  about  the  country  which  captures 
sympathy,  stirs  enthusiasm,  and  kindles  hope.  I  cannot  under¬ 
stand  how  one  can  read  the  history  of  modern  Bulgaria  without 
being  profoundly  stirred.  For  five  centuries — 1398  to  1878 — 
the  Bulgarians  were  under  the  power  of  the  Turks.  Western 
Europe  had  almost  forgotten  the  existence  of  this  nation  which 
had  once  taken  a  prominent  part  among  the  great  powers.  The 
Bulgarians  lay  helpless  and  hopeless  beneath  their  twin  masters, 
the  Turkish  governors  and  Greek  ecclesiastics.  After  nearly  five 
centuries  of  Turkish  bondage  Bulgaria  gained  her  freedom 
mostly  through  the  pens  and  swords  of  foreigners.  The  Bulga¬ 
rians  may  not  be  the  most  attractive  of  the  Balkan  races  but  they 
possess  sterling  qualities  which  must  tell  in  the  long  run.  They 
have  already  built  railways,  constructed  bridges,  and  greatly  im¬ 
proved  their  roads.  The  capital  city  has  so  advanced  that  one 
can  scarcely  recognize  in  the  Sofia  of  to-day  the  little  Turkish 
town  of  thirty  years  ago.  Social  questions  are  beginning  to 
arouse  the  people  from  indifference,  and  education  is  under- 


REPORT  OF  THE  RESIDENT  BISHOP 


7 


mining  the  superstitions  and  influence  of  the  State  Church.  We 
have  made  five  visits  to  Bulgaria,  and  we  can  see  no  reason  why 
our  Church  should  not  succeed  there.  Thank  God,  we  are 
succeeding. 

In  1905  we  transferred  to  Bulgaria  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Count,  of 
the  New  York  Conference,  and  appointed  him  superintendent 
of  the  mission.  He  has  proved  himself  to  be  the  right  man  in 
the  right  place.  His  administration  has  been  wise,  prudent, 
firm,  and  withal  aggressive.  The  last  two  years  have  been  the 
best  in  the  history  of  the  mission,  and  the  last  the  best  of  all. 
The  reports  show  a  net  gain  of  one  hundred  members  for  the 
past  year  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  for  the  quadrennium, 
and  a  decided  advance  in  all  departments. 

Our  noble  women  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
in  their  school  at  Lovetch,  have  been  preparing  the  way  for  these 
better  results.  We  have  sown  in  tears,  we  are  now  reaping  in 
joy !  Let  us  determine  on  a  liberal,  progressive,  and  just  policy, 
resolved,  God  helping  us,  to  take  this  pearl  of  the  Balkans  for 
Christ. 

HUNGARY 

Although  recent  years  have  added  much  to  our  knowledge  of 
the  territory  of  Hungary,  our  acquaintance  with  its  gifted  people 
is  yet  very  limited.  Hungary  is  a  country  larger  in  area  than 
Austria,  Italy,  or  than  Great  Britain.  It  comprises  every  variety 
of  scenery  from  the  cold  pine  forests  of  the  North  to  the  vine¬ 
yards  and  olive  gardens  in  the  south.  There  are  immense  fields 
of  wheat  like  those  in  Kansas  or  Iowa;  great  plains  for  cattle 
and  large  mineral  resources,  especially  iron,  copper,  and  tin. 
The  Danube  and  the  Theiz  are  both  great  navigable  rivers,  high¬ 
ways  of  commerce.  The  Hungarian,  sometimes  called  the  Eng¬ 
lishman  of  the  East,  is  high-minded,  patriotic  almost  to  excess, 
strong-willed,  full  of  ideas,  and  in  national  and  economic  mat¬ 
ters  of  consuming  energy.  In  the  course  of  thirty-five  years 
this  people  has  succeeded  in  creating  commerce,  great  manufac¬ 
tories,  a  network  of  railroads,  a  system  of  education,  and  national 
schools  of  literature,  science,  journalism,  painting,  and  music. 
In  no  country  of  Europe  are  the  elements  which  make  for  lib¬ 
erty,  equality,  and  justice  more  alive  than  in  Hungary.  Buda- 


8 


FOUR  YEARS  IN  EUROPE 


pest,  the  capital  city,  is  an  expression  of  the  people’s  intelligence 
and  energy.  From  a  comparatively  unknown  town  thirty  years 
ago  it  has  become  one  of  the  leading  cities  of  Europe  with  a 
population  of  nearly  900,000.  It  had  an  electric  subway  before 
any  was  thought  of  for  Boston  or  New  York,  and  its  under¬ 
ground  trolleys  antedate  all  others.  A  few  years  ago  a  copy  of 
the  Christliche  Apologete,  published  at  Cincinnati,  came  into 
the  hands  of  a  schoolmaster  at  Yerbasz.  He  subscribed  for  the 
paper,  formed  a  reading  circle,  and  every  week  read  portions  of 
it  to  his  friends  and  neighbors.  In  one  of  the  copies  he  found 
the  address  of  our  minister  at  Vienna,  and  sent  for  him  to  come 
and  preach  to  them.  A  gracious  revival  was  the  result.  A 
Brother  Pfeifer,  who  was  with  his  wife  converted  under  the 
preaching  of  the  first  sermon,  was  the  lay  delegate  to  the  Lay 
Electoral  Conference  at  Berlin  last  summer.  In  1900  Bishop 
Vincent  appointed  the  Rev.  Otto  Melle  in  charge  of  this  work, 
and  now  we  have  a  presiding  elder’s  district  with  twelve  preach¬ 
ing  places.  There  is  a  great  future  for  our  work  in  Hungary. 
It  would  be  well  if  Austria-Hungary  could  be  constituted  into  a 
separate  mission.  I  know  of  no  more  promising  field  for  Meth¬ 
odism  in  all  Europe.  The  evangelization  of  Hungary  is  also 
very  important  because  it  is  the  boundary  between  the  Orient 
and  the  Occident.  Here  we  have  Hungarians,  Germans,  Rou¬ 
manians,  Slavonians,  Servians,  and  many  other  nationalities. 

Austria  is  still  a  difficult  field,  but  the  door  is  being  pried 
open.  Universal  suffrage  has  been  granted,  and  during  the  past 
few  years  more  than  fifty  thousand  people  have  abandoned  popery 
at  the  cry  of  “Los  von  Rom.” 

SWITZERLAND 

In  Switzerland,  we  have  nearly  ten  thousand  members,  and 
more  than  twenty-two  thousand  scholars  and  teachers.  My  first 
Conference  there  was  at  Schaffhausen.  On  Sunday  we  were 
granted  the  use  of  the  old  cathedral,  and  about  two  thousand 
people  assembled.  You  can  imagine  my  feelings  that  Sabbath 
morning  as  I  preached  from  that  old  pulpit  built  before  the  time 
of  the  Reformation.  It  was  to  me  a  vindication  of  time  and  an 
inspiring  prophecy. 


REPORT  OF  THE  RESIDENT  BISHOP 


9 


GERMANY 

In  Germany  to-day  we  have  a  membership  of  more  than 
twenty-four  thousand,  and  an  able  body  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy  ministers  that  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other 
like  number  in  the  Church.  During  the  past  four  years  our 
people  in  Germany  contributed  nearly  $600,000  for  the  support 
of  the  work.  Our  success  in  that  great  empire  is  far  beyond 
what  the  fathers  of  fifty  years  ago  dared  to  dream  might  be 
possible.  We  have  progressed  most  where  the  spirit  of  opposi¬ 
tion  has  been  the  greatest.  For  instance,  in  Saxony,  our  people 
have,  until  very  recently,  been  fined  and  sometimes  imprisoned. 
When  one  wishes  to  join  our  Church,  he  must  go  to  the  pastor 
of  the  State  Church  and  declare  his  intention.  After  four  weeks 
of  reflection,  he  must  return  and  renew  his  declaration.  Then 
he  receives  a  certificate  which  he  takes  to  the  court  and  his  name 
is  enrolled  among  the  dissenters,  and  he  has  to  pay  about  three 
dollars  for  the  necessary  papers.  Precisely  here  we  are  making 
the  largest  gains.  No  one  can  now  imagine  the  possibilities  of 
the  future  when  the  spirit  of  Methodism  shall  have  more  thor¬ 
oughly  permeated  that  great  people.  I  sometimes  have  glorious 
visions  of  what  our  German  Methodists  are  to  accomplish  in  the 
world.  There  is  need,  however,  of  patience,  and  we  must  be 
sure  that  the  emphasis  is  placed  on  the  right  word — German 
Methodists. 

One  great  and  pressing  need  of  to-day  is  the  union  of  German 
Methodism.  The  Wesleyans  and  United  Brethren  have  already 
come  to  us.  If  the  Evangelical  Association  would  now  unite 
with  us,  Methodism  would  immediately  become  the  leading  free 
Church  of  Germany,  and  there  would  be  an  immense  saving  of 
money  and  of  energy. 

SCANDINAVIA 

In  Sweden,  Norway,  and  Denmark,  our  work  is  steadily  pro¬ 
gressing.  We  have  here  twenty-seven  thousand  five  hundred 
members  and  two  hundred  ministers.  They  also  have  contrib¬ 
uted  during  the  quadrennium  something  over  $600,000  for  the 
work.  In  these  countries  we  have  had  a  greater  influence  over 
the  State  Church  than  even  in  Germany.  Still  our  mission  is 


10 


FOUR  YEARS  IN  EUROPE 


not  yet  accomplished,  and  brighter  days  are  awaiting  ns  in  the 
near  future. 


FRANCE 

At  a  reception  given  to  the  College  of  Cardinals  on  March  19, 
1904,  Pope  Pius  X  took  occasion  to  pay  his  respects  to  President 
Loubet,  and  to  reprove  the  French  government  for  its  hostile 
attitude  toward  the  Romish  Church.  The  effect  in  France,  how¬ 
ever,  was  exactly  the  contrary  to  what  was  desired  by  the  Pope. 
“March  21,  1905/’  said  George  Clemenceau,  “will  be  a  memor¬ 
able  date  in  the  history  of  the  French  republic  and  of  the  Church 
of  Rome.”  On  that  day  began  one  of  the  greatest  debates  of 
history  on  one  of  the  most  far-reaching  measures — the  separa¬ 
tion  of  Church  and  State.  The  Roman  hierarchy  did  all  in  its 
power  to  prevent  the  catastrophe,  but  on  July  3,  1905,  the  meas¬ 
ure  was  voted  through  by  a  majority  of  108,  and  became  a  law 
January  1,  1906.  On  May  23,  1907,  we  organized  on  Rue  Cal¬ 
vin,  Geneva,  our  Methodist  Mission  to  France.  Through  the 
generosity  of  an  honored  Methodist  of  New  York  city,  Mr.  J.  S. 
Huyler,  we  have  been  able  to  begin  work  at  five  centers — Cham- 
bery,  Grenoble,  Lyon,  Avignon,  and  Marseilles.  Because  of  my 
trip  to  Africa  the  beginning  of  this  work  was  delayed,  and  be¬ 
cause  of  my  duties  in  this  country  during  the  past  winter  I  have 
not  been  able  to  give  to  the  French  work  that  personal  attention 
which  I  earnestly  desired.  Nevertheless,  we  are  already  meet¬ 
ing  with  great  success  in  three  of  the  places.  At  Chambery  and 
Lyon  we  worship  in  chapels  once  used  by  the  Roman  Catholics. 
There  is  here  also  a  magnificent  opportunity.  We  need  an  able, 
consecrated  man  as  superintendent,  and  a  few  more  men  like 
Brother  Huyler  who  will  supply  us  with  the  necessary  funds,  and 
success  will  be  assured. 


RUSSIA 

Thank  God,  we  are  also  in  Russia.  We  entered  by  way  of 
Finland  and  Germany,  led  by  the  providence  of  God.  Regular 
services  were  inaugurated  in  Saint  Petersburg  November  3, 
1907,  with  preaching  in  Russian,  Finnish,  and  Swedish.  In 
Russia  there  are  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  people. 
Ninety  millions  are  Russians,  fifteen  millions  Mohammedans, 


REPORT  OF  THE  RESIDENT  BISHOP  11 

nine  millions  Poles,  five  millions  Jews,  three  millions  Finns,  two 
millions  Germans,  and  one  million  Swedes.  The  rest  are  divided 
among  about  thirty  other  nationalities,  many  of  them  semi- 
Asiatic  in  character.  There  is  a  profound  conviction  among 
many  Europeans  that  the  next  great  religious  awakening  on  the 
Continent  is  to  be  in  Russia,  and  certainly  there  is  no  Church 
better  fitted  to  lead  in  that  great  work  and  to  gather  the  rich  har¬ 
vests  than  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  There  are  thou¬ 
sands  upon  thousands  of  people  in  Russia  who  have  of  recent 
years  been  reading  the  Word  of  God,  and  coming  into  possession 
of  a  personal  Christian  experience,  who  are  saying  to  our  preach¬ 
ers  :  “We  believe  and  experience  what  you  preach,  and  hence  we 
are  Methodists  without  knowing  it.”  These  will  certainly  soon 
come  under  our  banner.  The  doors  are  wide  open,  and  the  call 
is  very  urgent. 

We  have  transferred  a  gifted  young  man  from  the  New  York 
East  Conference,  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Simons,  and  put  him  in  charge 
of  all  the  work  in  Finland  and  Russia.  He  has  already  met  with 
marvelous  success.  We  must  now  give  him  the  necessary  appli¬ 
ances.  With  suitable  headquarters  at  Saint  Petersburg  we  could 
accomplish  wonders  to-day.  To-morrow  may  be  too  late ! 

In  all  these  Continental  countries,  we  carry  to  the  front  the 
banner  of  total  abstinence.  Of  course  we  have  had  to  educate 
even  our  ministers  up  to  this  standard.  In  the  face  of  ridicule 
and  scorn,  we  have  steadily  pushed  to  the  front,  and  the  vic¬ 
tories  have  been  glorious. 

One  of  the  most  important  branches  of  our  work  is  that  carried 
on  by  the  deaconesses.  Every  deaconess  in  Europe  is  a  trained 
nurse.  The  mother  house  is  at  Hamburg,  but  now  we  have  dea¬ 
conesses’  Homes  also  in  Switzerland,  Norway,  Sweden,  Den¬ 
mark,  and  Italy.  No  words  of  mine  can  adequately  express  the 
magnificent  work  accomplished  by  our  sisters. 

The  key  to  the  whole  situation  in  Europe  is  in  our  theological 
schools.  The  cry  of  the  hour  is  for  well-trained,  consecrated 
men.  Young  men  are  converted,  and  many  of  them  are  offering 
themselves  to  the  ministry,  but  as  yet  we  have  not  the  adequate 
schools.  Splendid  work  has  been  done  at  Frankfurt  and 
Hpsala,  and  our  brethren  at  Kristi ania,  Copenhagen,  Helsing¬ 
fors,  and  Rome  are  doing  the  best  they  can  under  the  very  re- 


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FOUR  YEARS  IN  EUROPE 


stricted  circumstances ;  but  these  schools  should  be  enlarged  and 
endowed  in  order  to  meet  the  demands  of  to-day. 

We  urgently  need  training  schools  for  Italy,  France,  Bulgaria, 
and  Russia.  YToung  men  are  at  our  doors  asking  to  be  taught, 
and  we  haven’t  the  means.  We  could  do  wonders  with  a  few 
thousand  dollars. 

In  1895  Bishop  FitzGerald  held  at  Berlin  the  first  Delegated 
Congress  representing  our  several  European  Conferences;  in 
1904  Bishop  Vincent  held  the  second  at  Zurich,  and  in  Septem¬ 
ber,  1907,  I  was  permitted  to  hold  the  third  at  Copenhagen. 

It  is  on  the  continent  of  Europe  that  Methodism  is  brought 
face  to  face  with  the  Greek  and  Romish  Churches.  The  Greek 
Church  has  become  degenerate  and  corrupt  and  void  of  the  spirit 
of  evangelical  Christianity.  The  study  of  God’s  Word  has  not 
only  been  discouraged  but  often  forbidden.  Mass  is  substituted 
for  the  gospel.  Penance  for  repentance.  The  Virgin  Mary  and 
saints  for  Christ.  The  simple  people  actually  believe  in  the 
saving  power  of  the  superstitious  practices  allowed,  encouraged, 
and  used.  Religion  and  conduct  are  divorced.  The  conception 
of  God  is  that  of  a  tyrant  whose  anger  must  be  appeased  by  the 
constant  repetition  of  prayers  and  by  chanting  in  an  unknown 
tongue.  It  is  pagan  in  all  but  name.  As  education  progresses 
among  the  people,  they  throw  away  their  vain  superstitions,  lose 
all  faith,  and  abandon  themselves  to  materialism  or  agnosticism.  * 

The  evils  of  the  Greek  Church  are  multiplied  and  emphasized 
in  Romanism,  but  with  this  difference ;  the  latter  is  jesuitically 
aggressive.  It  is  marvelous  how  successful  the  Jesuits  have 
been  in  breaking  down  opposition  to  a  system  by  getting  us  to 
look  at  a  person.  The  person  may  be  a  humble  parish  priest,  a 
self-forgetting  nun,  a  decent  Bishop,  or  a  goodish  Pope.  It 
makes  no  difference  so  long  as  they  can  influence  us  to  believe 
that  because  certain  individuals  are  not  so  bad  as  Romanism  has 
been  represented  to  be,  therefore,  the  system  has  been  misrep¬ 
resented. 

How  many  times  I  have  said  to  myself,  Lord,  who  is  sufficient 
for  these  things !  The  fields  are  vast,  the  problems  are  many 
and  very  difficult.  Methodism,  however,  may  have  a  great  future 
in  Europe  if  we  will  be  wise,  consecrated,  and  courageous. 


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